Shannon re-elected City Council president

Tie vote broken with quad-partisan deal

City Councilor Joan Shannon, D-Ward 5, will serve a second year as City Council president. Shannon and Councilor Karen Paul, I-Ward 6, were locked in a 7-7 impasse until Paul dropped out following a negotiated deal.

It took two 7-7 votes before Shannon was renamed City Council president.

Last week, the 14-member council voted in a tie three times. It ended its April 1 meeting with a vote to reconvene Monday.

Without a City Council president, city committees, including the money-controlling Board of Finance, could not meet.

Paul had thrown her name into the ring after Town Meeting Day. Shannon served as council president beginning in March 2012.

Paul had garnered support from the four Progressives, the two Independents. including herself. and the lone Republican on the council.

Shannon had support from all her fellow Democrats. Following a 10-minute recess, Paul removed her name from consideration. Shannon was then unanimously elected.

“I very much appreciate the spirit of compromise on this council,” Shannon said. “It really says we're all trying our very best to work in the interest of the city of Burlington -- to get to the interests of the city.”

“The interests of this city are greater than any one of us or this body,” Paul said. “These interests must be placed above all else.”

The deal worked out between the four parties says if there is a tie vote next year between a Democrat and a member of another party, the Democrat will step aside, Councilor Jane Knodell, P-Ward 2, said after the vote.

“I think that the compromise that we've come up with is very fair,” Knodell said. “We're sharing it. We agree that if we end up here next year, we're going to share it.”

The deal was worked on Sunday and Monday, one councilor said.

Shannon told the council she will consider the diverse political makeup of the panel as she makes her committee assignments.

The president presides and writes the agenda for the council, effectively setting the city’s legislative schedule.